OPINION
Many questions will have been answered in West Ham United’s embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Oxford United on Wednesday evening in the Carabao Cup.
Manuel Pellegrini gave the opportunity to fringe players in his squad and they didn’t repay the faith shown in them.
Players such as Robert Snodgrass and Jack Wilshere were brought back in as well as Nathan Holland making his senior debut for the Hammers out wide.
Holland was one of the only players who could leave the Kassam Stadium with his head held high as the young winger created numerous chances after impressing this season for the under-23s.
After picking up a red card in the 0-0 draw with Aston Villa, Arthur Masuaku came back into the side after missing the victory over Manchester United.
Fellow left-back, Aaron Cresswell impressed when deputising, scoring the second in the game against the Red Devils, and would have created a selection headache going into the Bournemouth clash.
Masuaku made that decision much easier on Wednesday evening, with Cresswell surely all but certain to start on the South coast at the Vitality Stadium now.
Masuaku struggled on his return, being at fault for one of the goals when he lost the ball and allowed his opposition winger clean through on goal to finish the game off.
Cresswell was solid at the London Stadium on Sunday, completing three tackles and two clearances [WhoScored] as he helped his side keep their fourth consecutive clean sheet at the time.
The 29-year-old Englishman can surely rest easy knowing his spot is now secure in the Hammers’ backline after Masuaku failed to impress against Oxford.
Pellegrini will surely think twice about drastic changes in the future after Wednesday’s defeat, and that should lead to Cresswell keeping his place against Bournemouth.
